City Councilwoman Maureen McCarry was elected council president by her peers at the council’s Jan. 5 meeting. Following her election, the council then selected City Councilman Fred Butler as deputy president.

“The president sets the policy, and reviews and approves the council agenda,” McCarry said.

She is also a member of the Council Land Use Committee, the Committee of the Whole Council and the board of directors of Eastside Fire & Rescue. Read more

Change would make tenants easier to find for large storefronts

Vacant storefronts in the city could soon see some tenants after the City Council Land Use Committee approved an agenda bill Jan. 8 that would exempt up to 10,000 square feet of commercial development proposals from the city’s transportation impact fees.

Officials try to solve problem that’s keeping downtown shops empty

Vacant storefronts on Front Street are mute testimony to the high cost of the city’s transportation impact fees, which can add more than $100,000 to the price of putting those properties back in service. Read more